DiPietro, signed for $4.5 million annually through 2021, had made 47 NHL appearances over the past four seasons because of an endless string of injuries. In 2013 before his demotion, he was 0-3 with a 4.10 GAA and .855 percentage.

"The last couple of years, with all the injuries, if it's taught me anything, it's that I need to enjoy what I do," DiPietro said. "It's a good opportunity to play a lot of games and get sharp. At the end of the day, you want to compete. You want to win. That's what I want to do.

"It's just playing games. You can't replicate games, game speed. I'll be able to do that here."